Question

Malik canoed against the current for 2 hours and then with the current for 1 hour before resting. Julio traveled against the current for 2.5 hours and then with the current for 1.5 hours before resting. If they traveled a total of 9.5 miles against the current, 20.5 miles with the current, and the current is 3 miles per hour, how fast do Malik and Julio travel in still water?

Answer 1

 x = Malik’s speed in still water 
y = Julio’s speed in still water

3 mi/hr = speed of current

Against current:

(x-3)2 + (y-3)2.5 = 9.5

With current:

(x+3)1 + (y+3)1.5 = 20.5 Final answer was x=4 and y=6